Gorgeous Once Loved Bride Gowns Offered by Recycled Bride

Spring is in the air and I am starting to see more wedding ads. It got me thinking about all the expenses my own family incurred for my wedding many, many moons ago. The size of an equity loan. Lots of flowers, 200 guests, 5 course meal. Just because this is what you did. It was the Eighties. Green, no way unless you are talking about the salad served or the dollars spent.

And my Wedding gown.

Fit for a princess. Well, let’s say it cost a small fortune. Why? Because it is once in a lifetime event. Brides are supposed to be gorgeous, radiant, and full of life. A dress that you will only wear once. Unless, you decide to take it out of storage and wear it for Halloween as your Bride of Frankenstein costume. You can still be gorgeous and green with a recycled gown for Recycled Bride and have left over green to buy those energy efficient appliances for a new house.

Huh, a recycled bride’s dress?

Tell me Dorothy, you can’t see yourself in the above recycled Vera Wang or any of the other bridal dresses for sale on the site? One is pretty than the other.

Why Recycled Bride?

Now lets be honest, girlfriends. I hear the but, but, Anna, this is my special day! You just don’t understand. (sniff. sniff.)

I too bought into the once in life time Cinderella story and bought a designer wedding gown complete with overflowing headpiece. The dress was worn literally 6 hours and if I recalled cost over $1500. That was 25 years ago. (Crap, that long ago?)

But it was my special day and all brides have to have a special gown. The one that speaks to them. If my dress was featured on a “where are they now show,” you would have to look in a spare closet in my house. All boxed up in plastic and no where to go. Maybe hoping to be worn by the daughter I never had. (Four sons later and the oven has been closed.) But when I look back at the cost that my bridesmaids and I shelled out for that 6 hours of time, it was absurd. I was young, not too green, and stary eyed. It was my wedding…

“But Anna, you bought the best dress in the house. Why shouldn’t I?”

I reformed my way. The last two Bar Mitzvahs, I wore designer dresses that were bought at thrift shops. Want to see the last dress? See here on the short PBS video. Now, you tell me that dress doesn’t scream Hollywood?

How About the Bridal Party?

Recycled Bride has sumpin, sumpin for everyone. Mother of the Bride dresses, Groom and Groomsmen clothing, dresses, center piece decor items, and even a beautiful diamond ring.

You don’t have to be a bride to appreciate this site. Many bride dresses can function as a prom dress or special dress for a charity event. Check out this year’s red carpet dresses. Lots of white and most could double as a wedding dresses. Wedding dresses don’t have to be all poofy like they use to be. Sooo, Joan Collins.

By the way, why you are staring at all of the stars on Recycled Bride’s blog, check out the tampon chandelier. (BTW, I love this blog. It is for anyone who loves green design.)

Not done yet gushing about Recycled Bride. There is even bridal registry items that you might swoon for. Someone else’s dislikes could be your love.

Got You Sold, Now What?

Now I got you sold on the idea. Check out the website’s how to. In addition, there is a nice piece about how to buy a recycled dress. Don’t buy thinking you are going to shrink into the dress unless you are going to be on one of those boot camp reality show.

On the flip side for brides that realize it is unfair to box a dress in plastic for its life and want to sell them so they too can party another day, see here on how to sell your dress. Remember, if you love something, let it go free. (or something like that.) Haven’t you heard of BETA, bride gown ethical treatment association?

And My Own Gown?

My thoughts are to dye it black or emerald green. Remove the puffy sleeve, and wear it to Fourth Son’s Bar Mitzah. Heck, I have to top Third Son’s Green Bar Mitzvah. One problem. My waist is just a teensy bit larger than when I got married. Four kids later, not so teensy. I see another challenge surfacing…

Readers, would you consider wearing a once loved gown or selling your own after the big day?

Would anyone buy a wedding gown for an event other than a wedding?